Page 101 of Fallen from the Stars

Smiling, Vasil raised his hand — fingers still around the shell — to his chest. “I will find a safe place to keep this. Rest well, daughter.”

Like a silver darter, Melaina threw herself at Vasil and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, father.”

He embraced her, the sensation in his chest only intensifying. He’d never imagined it would be so simple — just a few exchanged words, and he had another piece added to his little family. “Thankyou, Melaina.”

“You are welcome in our den, Vasil,” Rhea said.

Vasil bid the females, Randall, and Ikaros goodnight and exited their dwelling, feeling oddly light as he moved along the path. A few stars had broken through the clouds, and one of the two moons was visible over the water, casting silver light on the rolling waves. He entered his dwelling quietly; Theo was silent and still in bed, and he didn’t want to risk disturbing her until he was alongside her.

He moved to the storage chest at the foot of the bed and lowered himself to open it but stopped before he put the shell inside. He wanted to keep the shell safe, but it held too much meaning to him to be locked away in a box. Rising, he turned to survey the room. Muted lamplight bathed it in a soft glow, but he’d lived here long enough that he would’ve known the place just as well in total darkness. After several moments, he went to the fireplace and propped the shell on the mantle, its reflective surface facing outward.

He backed up and assessed the placement, smiling to himself.

When the setting sun shone through the windows, it would hit the shell and set it aglow with reflected light.

He turned off the small electric lamp on the table and crossed the room to climb into bed beside Theo, gently slipping his arm beneath her and drawing her against him. She turned to face him, snuggling her arms and cheek against his chest.

“How’d it go?” she murmured.

Vasil twined his tentacles with her legs and settled his cheek atop her hair. “Good. You were right, Theo. You have made both myself and my daughter happy.”

She hummed contentedly. Her breathing slowed.

He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Theodora. You are the only star I need ever see shine again.”

Chapter 20

“Thank you so much, Theo,” Jenny said, throwing her arms around Theo in an unexpected embrace. “It took Camrin three days just to figure out the sink was broken, but you fixed it twenty minutes.”

Theo awkwardly patted the woman’s back. Since her arrival in The Watch a little over a week ago, she’d discovered that most everyone like to touch — handshakes, hugs, pats on the back, kisses on the cheek. It was a tight-knit community.

The townsfolk had done nothing but make Theo feel welcome, but it would take time for her to grow used to their demeanors. The lessons of her childhood —no one gets close to you without trying to take something— were still hard to shake all these years later.

“It didn’t take me that long, Jenny,” Camrin said, scowling with his arms crossed over his chest.

Jenny released Theo and stepped back to look at her husband. “You flooded the kitchen. Twice! You may be a fine fisherman, Camrin, but a repairman you are not.”

“Aww, come on,” he said, his tough-guy scowl giving way to a wounded frown beneath his short, red beard. “That was just run-off from my boots. You know I get splashed with seawater all day.”

“From your boots? It covered the entire floor, Camrin! James was practically swimming in it.”

He shrugged sheepishly. “Can’t stop the kid from playing, right?”

Jenny pinched the bridge of her nose. She glanced at Theo, and her cheeks reddened as though she’d forgotten there was an audience present.

“Walter asked me to take a look at the lighthouse today,” Theo said, jabbing her thumb over her shoulder. “So… I’m going to head over there. If you have any other issues, just let me know.”

“Oh, I will,” Jenny said. “BeforeCamrin breaks it more next time.”

Camrin scoffed. “Ididn’tbreak it, Jen.”

Theo chuckled as she put away her tools and closed her toolbox. “Have a great day.”

“You too! And thank you again, Theo,” Jenny said, smiling.

Theo picked up her toolbox and made her way toward the front door. Behind her, she heard Camrin’s footsteps as he moved toward Jenny, followed by soft words and giggles. If Theo had guessed they were on the verge of a fight, she’d apparently guessed wrong.

She closed the front door firmly, but quietly.

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